cuteocracy
n.— «We are living in what a friend of mine calls “the cuteocracy,” where the cutest person, place, or thing wins. Realism is out—unless it’s the hyperconstructed reality of Survivor—and the supernaturally ugly aesthetic of the X-Files has gone the way of presidential candidate Ross Perot. Perhaps it’s unsurprising that, as the United States takes a dark political turn with its unceasing war on terrorism, people are hungry for sweetness and light.» —“Cuteocracy: The Apotheosis of Cute” by Annalee Newitz Lilith Gallery (Toronto, Canada) Apr. 9, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In the 1920s, a crossword-puzzle craze swept across the United States. The pastime became wildly popular, and even inspired a Broadway musical, Puzzles of 1925. The fad spread through Canada and England, and the Wimbledon Public Library even removed...
People who hunt treasure with metal detectors have a lingo all their own. Canslaw means the shreds of aluminum cans left after a lawnmower ran over them. And gold dance? That’s the happy jig you do if you find something far more valuable than...